Charles Frazier
The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority board of directors voted unanimously Thursday morning to offer terms for the position of executive director to Charles Frazier, the vice president and chief operating officer of the Jacksonville, Fla., Transportation Authority.
Board Chairman Johan de Nysschen spoke with Mr. Frazier by phone after the vote and conveyed to the board that he was “delighted” to accept the position, effective in January.
Mr. de Nysschen said the compensation package hits the ceiling of the approved salary range for the position, a move “blessed” by Mayor Tim Kelly who urged CARTA “to attract top talent to this key position in our city,” Mr. de Nysschen said.
“He is truly a visionary leader,” Mr. de Nysschen said of Mr. Frazier. “I am absolutely convinced he is going to make a profound contribution in the reinvention of CARTA.”
The compensation base is $235,000, plus an annual performance-based bonus and car allowance, and a relocation budget of $26,000.
Mr. Frazier was previously the chief executive officer of the transit authority in Little Rock, Ark. He was one of two finalists for the position.
“Both candidates were of outstanding caliber,” Mr. de Nysschen told the board.
Former CARTA executive director Lisa Maragnano retired in June 2023 but was retained as a full-time consultant. Chief Operation Officer Jeff Smith currently serves as interim executive director. Nine of the 11 board members were appointed in February by Mayor Kelly.
BUS DRIVER SAFETY
CARTA will explore installing Plexiglass barriers in each bus and adding de-escalation training for drivers as assaults on CARTA transit workers increase.
“There’s just been a change in the passengers that we carry,” said Director of Safety and Security Cyndi Bonds, comparing the aggression uptick to that seen in the airline industry. It was stated that drivers have requested the barriers for years.
Ms. Bonds is writing updated standard operating procedures in compliance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
RIDERSHIP
Phil Pugliese reported that bike transport on CARTA buses hit a record high in October, up 29 percent year-over-year. He said passengers with bikes now make up two percent of CARTA’s weekday, fixed-route ridership.
Mr. Pugliese said CARTA ridership has risen steadily to reach 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels, but bus routes have not yet been restored to pre-pandemic coverage.
High CARTA GO ridership in September prompted CARTA to add 15 hours of service in October, three hours each weekday morning. The on-demand program serves Cromwell, East Brainerd, Eastdale and North Brainerd, and connects to the Number 4 route between Eastgate and Hamilton Place.